Releasing overshot



jam. 28, filg, E, BURNS Er AL (928,96@

RELEASING VGVERSHOT Filed May 7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Jam. `289 R936., E. BURNS ETAL.

RELEASING OVERSHOT Filed May 7. 1934. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIP/Py P MM2-slim Patented Jan. Z8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RELEASING OVERSHOT Application May 7, 1934, Serial No. 724,294

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a iishing tool for removing or recovering lost objects from a well and relates more particularly to a releasing overshot. A general object of this invention is to provide a simple, practical and improved overshot for recovering lost pipe, tubing, etc. from a well.

Another object of the invention is to provide an overshot that is readily detachable or releasable from the iish in the event that the sh is caught fast and cannot be withdrawn from the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a releasing overshot that embodies novel and elective packing means for sealing with the overshot body and for sealing with the fish whereby fluid may be pumped downwardly through the sh to aid in freeing or dislodging it from the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a releasing and packing overshot of the character mentioned that may be passed downwardly any desired distance over the sh, thereby assuring a rm effective gripping engagement of its jaws with the fish.

Another object of the invention is to provide an overshot embodying gripping jaws and springs associated with the jaws for frictionally engaging the sh to resist longitudinal movement of the jaws with respect to the sh, whereby the body of the overshot may be moved longitudinally relative to the jaws to fully and positively actuate them into gripping engagement with the sh.

A further object of the invention is to provide a releasing overshot of the character mentioned that is easy to control and operate and that is simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

Other objects and features of our invention will be' better and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form of the invention, throughout which description reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of the overshot showing the jaws in elevation and releasably held in the unactuated position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the jaws actuated or ready for actuation. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the jaws and the associated parts in longitudinal cross section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the open or split side of the internal unit of the overshot. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the closed side of the unit. Fig. 6 is a top or plan View of the unit being a view taken as indicated by line 6--6 on Fig. 4 and Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are enlarged transverse detailed sectional views taken as indicated by lines `l'I, 8--8 and 9 9, respectively, on Fig. 1.

The overshot of our invention includes, generally, a tubular body l0 adapted to be passed downwardly over a sh F, iish gripping jaws I I actuated by movement of the body IG, means I2 for resisting movement of the jaws II with respect to the Iish F, means i3 for packing or sealing about the sh F, and means Ill for connecting the jaws II with the body II) to prevent relative movement between the body and jaws to hold the jaws released from the sh in the event that the ilsh cannot be withdrawn from the well.

rlhe body l5 is adapted to be attached to the lower end of a fishing string S of drill pipe, or the like. The body lll of the overshot is an elongate tubular member housing for carrying the gripping jaws II and having an open lower end for passing downwardly over the iish F. A member I5 is provided on the upper end of the body lil to facilitate the connection of the body with the fishing string S. The member I5 has a pin i6 threaded into the upper end of the body. A socket I'I is provided in the upper end of the connecting member I5 for receiving the tapered screw-threaded pin I8 of a tool joint section of the shing string. A central longitudinal opening i9 is provided in the connecting member I5 to pass iiuid and to receive the fish F. The opening 253 of the body ID has a downwardly and inwardly tapered wall portion or surface ZI at its lower end. The lower end 22 of the body IQ may be tapered or bevelled upwardly and inwardly to guide the body on the iish F.

The gripping jaws l I are arranged in the body i5 to be actuated through cooperation with the surface 2l when the body is moved upwardly with respect to them. The gripping jaws kII are embodied in or form parts of the novel and simplified internal unit U illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings. This internal unit U of the tool comprises what may be termed a sleeve or ring 23, two spaced arms 24 extending downwardly from the ring 23 and the gripping jaws II on the lower ends of the arms. The unit U may be an integral tubular member whose central longitudinal opening 25 is considerably larger in diameter than the sh F for which the tool is designed. The unit U is freely shiftable or slidable longitudinally in the body opening 2l). The arms 24 are diametrically opposite and are oi substantial length.

The gripping jaws I I are integrally joined with Y surface 2l.

with the surface 2l `upon upward movement of the lower ends of the arms 2l! and are preferably of greater width than the arms.V In practice the arms 24 by suitable rivets or the like.

opposing longitudinal edges 26 of the jaws II may be downwardly divergent to permit the required inward movement or contraction of the jaws. The inner sides of the jaws II are provided with longitudinal grooves having teeth 21 for gripping the fish F. Downwardlyand in-V wardlyinclined peripheral surfaces 28 are provided on the jaws EI to cooperate with the body The cooperation of the surfaces 28 the body relative Vto the jaws II causes inward actuation 'of the jaws. The arms 24 lare iiexible to permit the inward actuation of the jaws II Y and are resilient to automaticallyY return the jaws to their original unactuated positions upon disengagement of the surfaces 28 and 2 I.

The means I2 for resisting movement ofthe the drawings the means I2 includes two or more Ysprings 3i! extending longitudinally at the innerY sides of the arms 2t. VThe upper ends of the springs 3@ are attached to the inner sides of the The fish engaging springs 3) are bowed inwardly to frictionally contact thersh. The lower end portions 3i of the springs 3@ may slidably bear against the inner sides of the arms 24. When the tool has been lowered into the well so that the fishF is received in the lower end Vof the body I0 and passes through the unit U the springs 351 frictionally engage the fish. This engagement of the springs 3Q with the sh resists movement of the unit U whereby the body IIJ may be moved with respect to the unit to actuate the jaws Il and to effect their gripping contact with the fish.

The packing means I3 is provided to seal or pack olf between the interior'of the body IEI and the fish F whereby fluid pumped downwardly through theflshing string S is made to pass downwardly through the tubular fish F to discharge from its lower end and aid in freeing or loosening the fish. The packing means I3 includes a ring 32 of packing arranged in an annular groove 33 in the periphery of the ring 23. The packing 32 slidably engages and seals with the wall of the opening 2G and offers but little resistance to longitudinal movement between the body I!) and unit U. The packing means I3 also'includes an annular body 34 of packing arranged in the opening 25 ofthe ring 23. The packing 34 is provided to seal with the fish F and is retained between two rings 348. The rings 31%2L may be welded org otherwise secured to the interior of the unit ring 23. When the tool has been moved to a position where the sh F projects upwardly through the unit U the packing34 eeotively seals about the fish and the packing 32 seals with the interior of the body I so that fluid pumped downwardly through the string S is passed the lower endV of the flsh.v Y The means I4 for connecting the gripping jaws II with the bodyllfto Yeffect the releaseY of the jawsfroni Vthe sh Ff permits the tool to be easily released from'the fish if the fish cannot be Vloosened or pulled from the well. The means It consists of parts on the lower end of the pin i6 and parts on the upper end of the ring 23 adapted to meshY or interengage. Two diametrically opposite parts 35 project downwardly from lthe lower end of the pin I3 and two similar parts it project upwardly from the upper end of Vthe ring 23. Y Lugs 3l project horizontally or circumferentially from the lower ends of the parts 35 leaving notches 38 in the forward sides of Veach part. Lugs 39 project horizontally from the rear p sidesofthe. parts 35 and leave notches d in the engagement with the sh F the body I0 may be.

moved downwardly to disengage the surface ZI from theV jawsfsof'thatthe arms 24 spring orY tend n to spring the jaws to their( normal positions.

The downward movement of the body bringsthe parts @5in cooperation with the parts 36. The fishing string S may be turned slightly in a right hand direction toc'ause the lugs 3'I to` enter the notches si! and cause the lugs 39 to enter the notches 38. 'Ihe cooperating lugs Vand notches connect the unit U with the body II to be moved longitudinally with the bodyj so that the jaws II are fully disengaged from the iish upon the body being moved upwardly. y Y. Y

It is believed that the operation of the releasing overshot provided by our invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description.

The tool may be lowered into the well on the fish-V ing string S with its parts in the position illus-` trated in Fig. 1. In practice the internal unit U may be free in the body IIJ when the tool is low- VVered into the well. When the body i0 is passed downwardly over the fish F the fish isV received in the unit U and may project upwardly through the opening I9 into the string S.` In this manner the overshot may be passed downwardly f ally desired or/,required distanceover the fish.

To actuate the overshot to grip the'sh F theV stringv may be turned slightly in a left-hand direc-- tion to insure thedisconnecting of the means I4 whereupon the string S is movedn upwardly. Upward movement of the body IIIwith the string S bringsY the face 2l in wedging or active .cooperation withV the surfaces Y28 and causes the gripping jaws I I to be .actuated inwardly. The teeth 2l. of the jaws rmly grip the fish uponV this actuation of the jaws. During the upward movement of the body I0 to effect the actuation of the jaws II the springs 3l! which are in frirctional engagement with the fish F 'resistmovement ofY the'. unit U With respect to the fish. 'This movement ,resisting engagement of the springs 3B with thesh holds or tends to hold the jaws II against movement so that the surface 2l is moved, upwardly vagainst the surface 28 of the jaws torbring about Athe full effective actuation of the jaws. As described above the packing 32 seals withtheY interior of the body I0 and the packing 3iV seals with the iishrF so thatwiiuidj may be pumped .down-V wardly through thestring Sto aid in loosening or freeing the fish. The string S` may be moved up'- 4wardlyor maybe put under atensile strain to dislodge the shF. The iish, if freed, may be Aremoved from the well on the lower end of Athe string Sk the gripping jaws II retaining their grippingY and sumoring engagementwiih the fish during its removal. In the event that the fish F cannot be freed or withdrawn from the well the overshot Il may be released from the sh by moving the body downwardly to free the surface 2l from the jaw surfaces 28, the arms 24 are then free to spring the jaws away from the iish. The above described downward movement of the body l0 brings the parts 35 into engagement with the parts 36. The string S may be given a slight turn in the right-hand direction tol engage the lugs 31 and 38 and thus connect the unit U with the body l0 for upward movement with the body. The string S is then raised to fully free the tool from the iish F.

Having described only a typical form and application of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specic form and application herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to ourselves any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claim.

Having described our invention, we claim:

A well tool including a tubular body adapted to be passed over a sh, a depending lug in the upper end of the body, a gripping unit shiftable in the body comprising a ring, arms depending from the ring, and gripping jaws on the arms actuated against the sh through cooperation with the body, a lug on the unit adapted to be engaged with the rst mentioned lug to hold the unit in a, released position, and inclined faces on the lugs adapted to cooperate to assist in effecting the engagement of the lugs.

ERWIN BURNS. HARRY P. WICKERSHAM. 

